Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

frenchie_2

Forgot to say Savvy Sue, that yes thank you, I have posted a discount offer for Moneysavers but have had no takers so far

Savvy_Sue

frenchie wrote: »

Umm not too sure about the clothes optional bit as we are town centre! Although we do have a walled garden which I guess i could make 'private' but then there is an irrigation canal stocked with fish that runs at the bottom ??? (the local french fishermen would just love that!).

:rotfl: "Les anglais, ils sont tous fous!" :rotfl:

Could you screen any of it? BTW, naturists generally dress to go out so as not to shock the natives!

frenchie wrote: »

I almost bought and installed a sauna a friend was selling until she mentioned that it was too expensive to run.

I should probably have said that if you had a ready supply of wood, then a wood burning sauna would be the way to go.

frenchie wrote: »

I do have a plunge pool and am considering risking putting in a inground pool in our walled garden. Permission has already been refused twice due to it being flooding land and agricultural land. But as the Mayor told me, 'just go ahead, after all no one is going to see it over that wall'!

:rotfl:

droopsnout

I think my good friend Obelix actually said, "Ils sont fous, ces Bretons!"

Of course, he based this on the fact that we speak backwards ("chaude eau!"), drink warm beer and chilled red wine, drink hot water with a "cloud" of milk (tea hadn't yet been discovered, obviously) and, saddest of all, boil our lamb and serve it with mint sauce.

There was, you may remember, the threat to boil some prisoners alive and serve them to the lions with mint sauce.

The response was, "Poor animals!"

droopsnout

I've been watching the BBC European Election broadcast.

Am I alone in seeing some sad irony in the increased vote for extreme right-wing parties announced on the very weekend that we remember the men who died trying to defeat an extreme right-wing dictator?

seven-day-weekend

I've been watching it too droopsnout and echo your sentiments.

Yorkshire and Humberside have elected a BNP MEP.:eek: And that thug who is the leader of the BNP has been elected :eek: in the North-west.

But the trend appears to be Europe-wide.

droopsnout

Quite so. A shameful day.

donny-gal

Hi All - Back on a real keyboard now!

Frenchie - my suggestion for advertising would be to take up a slot in a UK National newspaper when they do their travel sections on a Saturday. or the Sunday ones.

Also there are always people going backward and forward to Spain and need to stay over, though you are competing with the Premier Classe chain 35-38€ + breakfast. There are many "free" newspapers around there - Euronews - Costa Blanca News - Coastrider to name but a few.

Recently been invited to stay with MSE and other friends, which is nice as we try to have a two day break, provided we can.

Yes SDW&DS we do not need extremists of any sort, though I can understand people wanting a change. Did you see the attack on the vehicle the BNP leader was travelling in, that person was no different, and it was futile. Looks like an slight extremist has got in as Doncaster Mayor, an ex-teacher.here.

Euro back to 1.154€

DG

droopsnout

I think that Frenchie offers accommodation quite different from the Première Classe chain, but the point is valid nonetheless. Those undertaking a car journey from UK to Spain (or the reverse direction) will choose their own preferences for accommodation, and that may be authentic French B&B or whitewashed motel room. I know which I prefer, but sadly it's not always within the budget. I think that most people will elect to stay in one kind of place or the other, though, and, of course, there are other categories of traveller who will choose luxury hotels, country hotels, Formule 1, etc.

I must say that of all the alternatives, staying with MSE friends (and other friends, naturally) is our preference. And it's nice to receive them at our place, too!

DG's suggestion of a UK newspaper ad is interesting. I think it deserves exploration. But more specialist boards may provide info about whether such advertising pays off. The sad fact is that there are so many Brits running B&Bs and gîtes in France that the market is saturated in many places. And the French tend to prefer staying with French hosts, as that offers a greater likelihood of authenticity of cooking, etc. Why holiday in France and stay with foreigners? Why holiday in England and stay with (e.g.) Poles?

So I feel that Frenchie is right in trying to extend her market amongst UK travellers.

DG, in what way is Peter Davies an extremist? I know neither the man nor his party.

donny-gal

DS here

Doncaster desperately needed a change, but wonder if this is a little too far, but obviously the folk of Doncaster wanted a real change.
DG

droopsnout

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Mind you, that Wikipedia write-up may be changed shortly, when the man's own people have read it.

Doesn't look good, though, does it?

Sorry for being off-topic, folks.